There is perhaps no word more frequently associated with anniversary celebrations in the gacha gaming world than drama. Particularly for popular titles, fans tend to have high expectations for how developers commemorate such milestones. They expect generous rewards, exciting in-game events, and sometimes even free high-tier characters. When those expectations fall short, disappointment quickly turns into vocal backlash, and that’s happening to Kuro Games‘ Wuthering Waves.
Instead of being met with joy and excitement, the announcement of Wuthering Waves‘ first anniversary celebration has sparked a wave of criticism from the player base. As many had feared, the event is not in line with the community’s expectations.
The rewards on offer were seen as lacklustre, consisting primarily of basic in-game resources rather than anything that might feel celebratory or impactful. Notably, there was no opportunity to obtain a free 5-star character, an aspect of such events that many fans had strongly hoped for.
Worsening the situation, fans criticised Kuro Games for being tone-deaf. Alongside the underwhelming anniversary rewards, the company also revealed the return of 10 character banners. However, these banners were not part of any free reward scheme. Instead, players would need to spend in-game currency or real money to roll for these characters, which only added to the growing frustration.
The backlash wasn’t limited to the global player base. In China, which remains Wuthering Waves‘ largest market, the response was similarly intense. On BiliBili, the official post announcing the anniversary event has already garnered more than 350,000 comments, ranging from criticism to a mix of reluctant support.
As of now, Kuro Games has not issued an official statement addressing the controversy. However, they have reportedly opened a dedicated feedback channel on their official Discord server, allowing players to voice their opinions and suggestions regarding the anniversary rewards. Whether or not this feedback will lead to changes remains to be seen, but for now, what was meant to be a celebratory milestone has instead become a source of major community unrest.
